MANILA – University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses returned to its winning ways in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball with a 25-19, 25-9, 25-17 triumph over University of the East Lady Warriors on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Angeline Poyos finished with 25 points, on 21 attacks, three service aces, and a block, as the Golden Tigresses improved to an 11-2 win-loss slate.
Regina Jurado added 11 markers, including nine attacks and two blocks, while Athena Sophia Abbu and Jonna Perdido both contributed six points apiece for the Golden Tigresses.
From a tight start in the first set, the Golden Tigresses turned a 14-all score to a 19-14 lead with connections from Poyos and Pia Abbu. UST’s lead grew to as high as 23-15 but UE made a run to cut it to 19-24 before Mary Banagua connected an attack for UST.
The Golden Tigresses kicked off the second set with five straight points en route to establishing a double-digit lead at 17-7. Poyos and Jurado then unloaded consecutive hits to finish the set for UST.
The third set became tight anew for both squads with the Golden Tigresses clinging to a 16-14 lead, but three consecutive points by Pierre Abellana and successive points from Poyos ended the match in straight sets for UST.
“Kapag malinis ‘yung galaw ng mga bata, madali lang ‘yung panalo namin ng puntos, so kapag inulit ulit lang namin ‘yun, mas malaki ‘yung chance na makuha namin ‘yung panalo,” said UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes.
Khy Cepada top-scored for the also-ran Lady Warriors with nine points, while rookie Casiey Dongallo was held to seven points as they dropped to a 2-11 mark.
Meanwhile, De La Salle University Lady Spikers hardly broke a sweat against arch-rival Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles with a dominant 25-12, 25-12, 25-18 victory.
Thea Gagate led the way with 16 points, while Shevana Laput added 15 markers as the Lady Spikers improved to a 11-2 record, tying the National University Lady Bulldogs and the Golden Tigresses on top./PN
